More joint patrols to police the city

Two dozen soldiers, who recently returned from Grenada, will be deployed on the streets of Port-of-Spain today as part of the joint police /army patrols. The patrols will operate from 6 am to 6 pm daily along Charlotte, Henry and Prince Streets. The police mobile unit at the Brian Lara Promenade will remain open round the clock. Police officers from Court and Process, the Police Administration Building, and Finance, will also be deployed to do four-hour patrols at nights in the city. Uniformed officers, under the supervision of Snr Supt Errol Denoon, head of the Port-of-Spain division, have already begun foot, mobile and mounted patrols on a round the clock basis.

Checks with officers at the mobile police post at the corner of Queen and Charlotte Streets, Port-of-Spain, revealed that over the weekend only one report was lodged. A man pretending to purchase a pair of sneakers ran out of a shoe store with the sneakers. Yesterday, Richard Lau, Co-Chairman of the Charlotte Street Vision 2004 and Beyond, said while he was pleased with the setting up of the additional mobile post, he felt the post should be opened 24 hours. He said on Saturday, a woman’s purse was slashed while she was shopping on Charlotte Street. Lau feels that more police visibility is needed along Charlotte Street.

He reminded that the businessmen of Charlotte Street risked losing business when they went public with the crime situation there, but added it meant exposing the truth, in a bid to avoid losing shoppers altogether. He said Saturday was a busy time for the business community on Charlotte Street and he feels the police/army presence should be increased on Saturdays.